I'm about to receive a brand new set of Ispiris next week and as I would like to keep them in good condition and make cleaning as easy as possible, I was wondering what are my options in applying some protection before they go on the car for the first time, I guess similar to a paint protection film being applied on a new car. Finish is glossy black if that matters.

Carbon Collective Platinum Wheels would be my choice for brand new wheels. 

4 minutes ago, jars said:

Carbon Collective Platinum Wheels would be my choice for brand new wheels. 

How easy is it to work with that stuff? I am not experienced at all with such applications. Needs any sort of protective equipment (gloves/goggles etc.) and an open area to apply it?

No special PPE is required, nor do you need to be in a well ventilated workspace .... 

https://detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=333389

11 minutes ago, jars said:

No special PPE is required, nor do you need to be in a well ventilated workspace .... 

https://detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=333389

Thanks, seems straight-forward, athough instructions do mention a well ventilated area  but that's ok, it doesn't seem to be that toxic.

Cheers

Just now, newbie69 said:

Thanks, seems straight-forward, athough instructions do mention a well ventilated area  but that's ok, it doesn't seem to be that toxic.

Cheers

I must have missed that bit 🤗

Seems the price to get Carbon Collective Platinum Wheels in Sweden is twice the product's price and I can't find any in local detailing shops.

Instead I find Gtechniq C5 and Gyeon RIM Q2. Will those do a similar job?

Yeah, both those will do a similar job 

I had C5 on my vRS’s Gemini’s from new. Didn’t stand up to getting graunched on a kerb by yours truly, but in every other aspect it gets a 👍 from me.

 

Gaz

I've ordered the C5 from my local detailer, should be in time for prepping the wheels this weekend.

One question: I see you should thoroughly clean and de-grease the alloys with some panel wipe before the ceramic application. I expect mine to be clean enough coming straight from the factory but how about degreasing? I don't have any panel wipe and it wouldn't make it in time for the weekend if I ordered it now so what are my options from the more "regular" substances around? I'm guessing worse case washing with soap detergent (instead of my wash n wax shampoo) would do it? Do I actually need to worry that much about that stage on brand new wheels?

Edited 27 May, 20206 yr by newbie69

On 27/05/2020 at 23:19, newbie69 said:

I've ordered the C5 from my local detailer, should be in time for prepping the wheels this weekend.

One question: I see you should thoroughly clean and de-grease the alloys with some panel wipe before the ceramic application. I expect mine to be clean enough coming straight from the factory but how about degreasing? I don't have any panel wipe and it wouldn't make it in time for the weekend if I ordered it now so what are my options from the more "regular" substances around? I'm guessing worse case washing with soap detergent (instead of my wash n wax shampoo) would do it? Do I actually need to worry that much about that stage on brand new wheels?

Use bug & tar remover and IPA to decontaminate the rims.

Edited 29 May, 20206 yr by ZacDaMan72

7 minutes ago, ZacDaMan72 said:

Use bug & tar remover and IPA to decontaminate the rims.

Isn't tar remover an overkill for this? The wheels were squeaking clean in fact, there was only a bit of fine dust from the packaging.

Anyways time was limited so given the clean condition of the rims and that the closest thing to a panel wipe in my poor "detailing inventory" was DoDo's glass cleaner Clearly Menthol (it contains alcohool, it's supposed to be solvent and leaves a dry smear-free finish) I just gave them a quick pass with that, buffed it out and then went on with the C5.

It's quite hard (for an amateur like me) to tell if you have applied it correctly as it's 100% translucent. After a quick buff, there's usually residue remaining which shows only if you look at a certain angle/light. If you buff it out repeatedly though for the residue to disappear the alloy feels again very dry and squeaky to the touch which I guess is not what you want to achieve? So I only did some light buffing ensuring that the surface remained sleek and with 0 friction when sweeping your finger over it, time will tell i guess... I was inclined to skip one alloy to see if i did it right and what effect I achieved